Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco- Salazar and First District Congressman Celso Lobregat are now in a tug-of-war on who has lobbied more extensively and thus, responsible for the impending sale of the ARMM properties in Cabatangan to the national government.

In a press conference called by Lobregat yesterday, the Zamboanga solon expressed “amusement” on the move by Salazar to claim credit while explaining his role on the move of the national government to purchase the ARMM properties.

In a recent City Hall statement, Salazar claims to have received the information on the impending sale from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana after a meeting with congressional representatives and military officials.

Salazar also claimed to have been informed by Lorenzana through a text message that President Rodrigo Duterte has acceeded to purchase the Cabatangan properties from the ARMM.

The president was said to have acceeded to the purchase due to the mayor’s constant pleading for the national government to acquire the property.

Lobregat, for his part, claims that the purchase of the Cabatangan properties was among the proposed priority amendments to the Bangsamoro law which he has been pushing for.

Among the proposed amendments submitted by the solon are the holding of only one plebiscite, the issue on territory, contiguity issue, public order and safety, Napolcom, police and military concerns and the issue on the Cabatangan property.

He said that he was among a small group of congressman who met with President Duterte to bring up the issues and concerns about the proposed Bangsamoro law, which was at the time under discussion.

“Let us give credit where credit is due. Let us not take thru credit for something that is not really creditable to you because a lie told a thousand times, becomes the truth. Let us not mislead the people. If it is because of the president, then this property in Cabatangan should have been bought during the time of President Noynoy Aquino...I am really amused with the statement from City Hall,” Lobregat said. (Bhong Simbajon)